Seay announces candidacy for Yell treasurerRev. Ed Seay of Dardanelle announces that he is seeking the Democrat nomination for Yell County Treasurer. Rev. Seay is currently the pastor of Havana United Methodist Church and Executive Director of Help Network. He is a 1993 graduate of Dardanelle High School. Rev. Seay stated, “I believe the 12 years I spent managing multi-million dollar retail stores and the efficiency with which I manage Help Network will be valuable assets to the Treasu...

Massive crowds, world leaders to honor Nelson Mandela JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa expects overwhelming crowds and a host of world leaders to attend services honoring late President Nelson Mandela, though with the ceremonies only days away officials acknowledged Saturday they couldn't offer any specifics yet. Across the country, South Africans already have begun honoring Mandela, who died Thursday at age 95, and officials expect tens of thousands to participate in next week's official service...

Council to vote on 2014 budgetThe Russellville City Council is expected to vote on the city’s 2014 budgets at its December meeting. A day-long series of budget hearings was held Wednesday for aldermen to review and discuss proposed budget items. Mayor Bill Eaton said the hearings led to very little change in the proposed budgets. “We’ve had very few questions raised, and I think everybody ... is in agreement and in approval of what we presented,” he said. Budget are very s...

Cotton’s mother touts son in Senate campaign adWASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, is turning this week to his mother for a helping hand in his campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark. Avis Cotton is featured in a new ad campaign, trumpeting her son’s service as an infantry officer in Iraq and Afghanistan as a reason to send him to the Senate. The ad began airing Friday in the Jonesboro area, according to the Cotton campaign. “After Harvard, he gave up a great career to...

River Valley legislators recognizedTwo local legislators were recently recognized by the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association (APAA). The APAA presented Sen. Michael Lamoureux and Rep. John Catlett with the Advocate of Justice Aware for their work and support of prosecution efforts during the 89th General Assembly. Bob McMahan, prosecutor coordinator, said the awards are presented to legislators that go "above and beyond" in pushing for legislation that furthers the goals...

Pottsville approves building purchaseThe Pottsville City Council approved Monday the purchase of a building next to City Hall for $75,000. The building will house the city's water and street departments. Once the sale is finalized and minor adjustments are made to the building, the city employees will occupy the facility. "It's pretty well set up for exactly how we would want to build a building," Mayor Jerry Williams said. The city also approved rezoning a property on River Road...

County to vote on 3 percent raiseThe Pope County Quorum Court is set to vote on approval of the county budget — including a three percent cost-of-living raise for employees — at its meeting next week. At a final budget hearing Monday, JPs discussed the implications of a salary increase for the county’s employees in a year where projected expenses already exceed expected revenues. Surplus investment funds are expected to be used to make up the shortfall. “What they’re asking f...

Dardanelle council OKs request for injunctionDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle City Council approved Monday a request for an injunction against a man who has protested at City Hall for several weeks. With the council’s approval, the petition can now be signed by the mayor and city attorney and presented to a judge for approval. Tony Lamb has staged a protest against the city since early November, claiming two sewer backups into his house were the result of a clogged city sewer main. The city d...

Drown announces candidacyTrevor Drown, 43, of Russellville announces he will be a Republican candidate for State Representative, District 68, in the Republican primary on May 20, 2014. Robert E. Dale’s tenure as state representative is ending, because he has reached his term limit. District 68 covers parts of Pope and Van Buren counties. Drown is a graduate of Russellville High School and Arkansas Tech University. He is a U.S. Army Green Beret, having served with dist...

Council sends subdivision back to planningThe Russellville Planning Commission will consider for a third time a proposed subdivision in southwest Russellville. Aldermen considered Thursday an appeal from the proposed developer of Overland Park Subdivision, who was not happy with a condition to add an additional connection that the Planning Commission required. David Garza of Barrett and Associates, speaking on behalf of the developer, requested aldermen approve the original plat as su...

Kerry tells Iran: Prove peaceful nuke intentionsGENEVA (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that if Iran’s nuclear program is truly just for peaceful purposes, then it simply needs to “prove it” to the world. Kerry spoke in Geneva after a marathon negotiating session — lasting about 18 hours — that culminated with a first-step deal between Iran and six world powers, including the U.S. The deal is designed to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the easing of economic sancti...

When presidents die, power transfer can be fraught NEW YORK (AP) — As President John F. Kennedy lay dying 50 years ago at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Vice President Lyndon Johnson was hurried into a small room in Minor Medicine, where he stood silently against a wall. After a wait of some 35 minutes, presidential aide Kenneth O’Donnell entered and approached Johnson, who had been two cars behind Kennedy when the shots were fired in Dealey Plaza. “He’s gone,” O’Donnell told him. Almos...

Fort Smith seeks revenue boost for 2014 FORT SMITH (AP) — Fort Smith city leaders seeking a revenue boost for 2014 say they can pull in more money with personnel cuts and higher fees. City Administrator Ray Gosack told the Southwest Times Record newspaper city directors asked for a way to boost the closing balance in the 2014 general fund. The city is projected to end this year with $5.6 million on hand, but next year’s proposed budget calls for an ending balance of only $3.4 millio...

Judge gives initial OK to end school suit LITTLE ROCK (AP) — After decades of court battles and $1 billion of government aid, one the nation’s most historic school desegregation efforts might finally be nearing an end. A federal judge gave preliminary approval Friday to a settlement in a Little Rock desegregation lawsuit that would phase out special court-ordered payments after the 2017-18 school year. The end would come 60 years after the eyes of the nation first were riveted on Litt...

Mayor breaks tie to approve property purchaseRussellville’s mayor broke a split vote Thursday to approve the purchase of property for the future construction of a new central fire station. Prior to the City Council’s meeting on Thursday, the Finance Committee met and voted to recommend the council approve the purchase of approximately half a city block just north of the 500 Building on West Main Street for $350,000. The property has been identified as an ideal location for the constructi...

Interest high for downtown parking studyAs the deadline for submitting qualifications approaches, members of the Joint Parking Committee said they are pleased with the interest in a downtown parking project. The committee, consisting of two Pope County justices of the peace, two Russellville aldermen and a representative from the Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee, published a request for qualifications (RFQ) for organizations interested in conducting a feasibility study for a ...

Pope County finalizing budgets for 2014With a final budget hearing scheduled Monday to consider cost of living adjustments for employees, Pope County is nearing the end of its budgeting process. Most department heads have requested budgets for 2014 with little to no increase over 2013 numbers, Budget Committee chair Justice of the Peace Kim Virden said. “The budget is pretty flat,” he said. Revenue projections show little change from 2013. General Fund revenues for 2013, as of Nov....

JFK 50th: Nation pauses to remember lost president By The Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — Fifty years after John F. Kennedy fell victim to an assassin’s bullet while visiting Texas with his wife, people at home and abroad paused Friday to remember the 35th president of the United States. Collected here are memories of the slain president, details from the day of his death and live updates from the memorial service at Dealey Plaza in Dallas. ——— HOW THE KENNEDY FAMILY REMEMBERED President John F...

Unemployment rate creeps up in OctoberLITTLE ROCK (AP) — State officials say Arkansas' unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.5 percent in October. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services says the increase mirrored a similar jump in the national unemployment rate. The agency says five sectors added jobs last month, with the biggest gain coming in trade, transportation and utilities with the bulk of the increase coming from retail trade jobs. Educ...

Tom Cotton criticizes health care lawLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Republican Senate hopeful U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton on Friday continued to criticize the president's signature health care law ahead of next year's election when he hopes to unseat the lone Democrat in Arkansas' congressional delegation. President Barack Obama remains deeply unpopular in Arkansas, and Cotton seized on that Friday in Little Rock, devoting his address to the Political Animals Club to the federal health care overhau...